A mum was unaware that a terrorist attack had happened outside Liverpool Women's Hospital just an hour after she gave birth.
A man, who did not want to be named, said he and his partner welcomed their baby into the world at the hospital at around 10am on Sunday, just an hour before a car exploded outside.
As he headed outside to get some fresh air, the new dad said he witnessed the aftermath of the explosion, which has now been declared as a terrorist incident.
The man said he decided not to tell his partner about the explosion at the time as she was taken into theatre.
He told the ECHO: "I heard someone say something has happened outside but my baby had just been born.
"[My partner] was in theatre, I didn’t tell her, I only found out when I came down here and saw the taxi guy come out and he had blood all over his head."
The man said his partner, who is still in hospital with the baby, is anxious after what happened and both of them are keen to get home.
He added: "You just don't expect it to happen at a hospital."
Merseyside Police has confirmed one man died as a result of the explosion and another person suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.
A taxi driver believed to have been caught up in the blast has been named as David Perry.
Police said the taxi driver was injured in the attack but has now been released from hospital and is recovering at home.
Three men aged 21, 26 and 29 were arrested on Sunday under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act.
In an update today, Merseyside Police confirmed a fourth man aged 20 has been arrested in connection with the incident.
A man, who was dropping his pregnant wife off at an appointment at Liverpool Women's Hospital on Monday said she was working as a nurse at the time of the explosion on Sunday.
He said: "She was here when the incident happened and immediately she had to ring me.
"They didn’t know what was happening, they just heard the sound of the explosion and later on they got to know what was happening.
“She was a bit scared. When I told her everything was under control she felt better with that.”
The man said his wife carried on working after the explosion on Sunday and has had to attend a pregnancy appointment at the hospital this morning.
He said: "[The hospital] just said because of the situation it’s patients only, I obviously understand.
"I’m going to wait in the car and keep in touch by phone."
Staff have said that the hospital is operating as usual today unless those with appointments are advised otherwise.
A woman told the ECHO she was "petrified" about attending an appointment at the Women's Hospital today after hearing about the explosion on Sunday.
She said: "It was last night we heard, my partner saw it on Facebook. I couldn’t believe it.
"I was petrified, I didn’t want to come in but I had to come to have my Covid test. I’ve got an operation on Thursday and I couldn’t have it otherwise.”
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